MUSEVENI'S 'DISCIPLINED ARMY' UNMASKED
The ongoing brutal crackdown on political dissent has unmasked Museveni's army. Since time immemorial, the army has been and remains at the centre of violence under the Museveni regime. From the gruesome violence against UPC party functionaries during his Bush War to atrocities in Northern and North Eastern Uganda after taking over power. From extra judicial killings and gruesome physical tortures under Operation Wembly and the so called war against terrorism under JAT to commando raids of the High Court and Parliament to influence judicial and legislative decisions.
From arresting, torturing and detaining civilians over political dissent to daylight crackdown on peaceful peaceful protests. From trying civilians in military courts to taking over the role of criminal investigations of non military related cases. From training the so called police personnel in combat drills in military camps to soldiers being dressed in police uniform and deployed to do civil policing. From outright deployment of army officers into police structures to turning the police into a paramilitary force or at best a branch of the army. From the Congo to CAR, the same army has repeatedly been accused of gross human rights abuses.
It is only of recent following the full militarisation of the so called police force that brutality has been associated with the Uganda police. Otherwise, all along the traditional police has specialized in corruption while the army was excelling in gross human rights abuses. It is unfortunate that gullible Ugandans forget so quickly that they have been exonerating the army in brutality and only pointing fingers at the police. He below, please find an article we wrote in the same regard in August 2016.
Change of Guards - Friday, August 5, 2016 at 8:15 PM
ROLE OF MUSEVENI'S ARMY IN 'POLICE' BRUTALITY
Ugandans are up in arms condemning 'Police' brutality. The current agitation was sparked off by an incident on 12th July 2016 when security personnel indiscriminately beat up harmless civilians who were cheering up the release from detention of the leading opposition figure, Dr. Besigye. The Police Chief commended his officers for a job well done. Though parliament was divided on the matter, majority of the regime sycophants defended the police actions. The army representative in parliament through Gen. Pecos Kutesa contended that ".....the opposition and their followers provoked the police who were carrying out their constitutional duties. The police should not be blamed." A few months ago upon being selected as army representative in parliament, the army's political commissar told the media that ".....for us we do not participate in controversial discussions. When the debate is political, we keep mum." Civil society and the general public condemned the brutality. Some of the religious leaders came out to condemn the brutality but majority of them kept mum for fear of loosing out on Museveni's donations of posh cars.
Consequently, the police is pretending to take disciplinary action by charging its junior personnel with a disciplinary offense of conduct prejudicial to good order and discipline before their hastily instituted disciplinary committee dubbed court. In all fairness, the brutal actions of the police amounted to torture and attempted murder if it had not been for the military dictatorial regime. The weapons used and the body parts that were being targeted would clearly prove an intention to either kill or cause gravious bodily harm in a formal criminal trial. Private citizens and victims have commenced private criminal proceedings for vicarious liability and conspiracy in the conduct of his men. He is busy using tax payer's money to organize goons so that they carry out street protests against those criminal proceedings and to threaten victims and judicial officers. Using its majority in parliament, the regime blocked the move to institute a special committee of parliament to probe the police brutality.
To crown it all, Museveni has come out to defend the actions of the police officers and instead blaming the leader of the opposition "......otherwise, it would not have been reasonable to charge these young police people for defending themselves against an illegal and violent demonstrators." Museveni who without shame claimed that he had not had time to meet the police chief to find out what transpired is the same person who was seen seated by the roadside making a call to his security chiefs about Dr. Besigye's release.
Circumstantially, he must have been giving orders on how his police should brutalize cheering crowds. FDC's Senior Counsel, Wandera Ogalo innocently opined that ".......either the president is not properly briefed or he is just ignoring the briefs on police brutality for political reasons." Oh, poor Wandera forgets that sometime back while presiding on Heroes day in Iganga, Museveni stated that he knows everything that happens in the country.
It is a fact that the ongoing police brutality is a well set out scheme by the regime designed to instill fear into the population and subdue them into submission to its dictatorship. Therefore, nothing will but instead Ugandans should expect the worst. he pretense of taking disciplinary action against some of its officers is meant to hoodwink the public just as a mitigating factor against the fear of fueling mass protests which it has been trying to suppress since the rigging of the general election in February 2016. What is special with the incidents of July 2016 when for over a decade now the police has excelled in brutalizing citizens in incidents worse than this most recent one??? From Kiboko Squad, Bodaboda 2010, Team No Sleep and others to the most recent, Kifeesi, why had Ugandans never come out strong? Anyway, better late than never. What is most intriguing is the fact that a big section of gullible Ugandans have come out to exonerate the army to the extent of branding it as being a friendly force. True, like is the case with the police, majority in the army do not approve this brutality against citizens but in the absence of an alternative they have no option but to dance to the tune of a small group of mafias that are holding them hostage.
Since coming to power, Museveni set off to destroy by militarizing the traditional police which he considered hostile to his regime. By deploying army officers to top command positions of the police force he has to a bigger extent succeeded not only in militarizing the police but also in systematically getting rid of the personnel from the 'hostile' regions who used to dominate the traditional police. Without shame, almost 85% of the strategic command and administrative positions of the police force are headed by personnel from his western region. He has fused some strategic units of the police with his Special Forces Group under the command of his son, Gen Muhoozi and charged with ensuring that he remains in power at all cost. Police personnel are afforded military training together with the army in military barracks and are now using military combat weapons like mortar heavy machineguns. The camouflage military combat uniform used by the special units of the police is designed to instill fear in the population into submission. The camouflage leaves one wondering if it matches with the surroundings in the urban setting where they predominantly operate.
More army officers who have no any law enforcement background are being seconded to the police to take over command of its vital units. Plain clothed but hooded military personnel from the SFG are being used in brutalizing civilians during opposition processions under the cover of being Crime Preventers but are often visibly commanding senior police commanders. Military intelligence personnel in civilian clothes and hooded take the lead in brutalizing leaders of the opposition and excited onlookers. A number of illegal detention and torture facilities that double as police stations are manned by military intelligence dressed in police uniform. The army's Military Police has since 1986 been doing police work under the excuse that the police lacked capacity but its now 30 years and the military police is becoming an acceptable component of the police thus nobody is questioning their role in the so called police brutality. When and where will they also be subjected to the so called disciplinary action for the recent brutality against civilians??? What about increased military incursions into the police force instead of withdrawing its presence???
Another monster is the so called Joint Security Committee (JIC) and its technical body the Joint Intelligence Committee (JIC) which are army and intelligence services led respectively. They are composed of the army, police, intelligence services, SFG and prison services. It usurped the role of the statutory National Security Council that was enacted by an the NSC Act 2/2000 as an advisory body to the president on matters of national security. All the evils of the so called police against the opposition and citizens are designed by a secret committee of 'inner people' and rubber stamped by this demonic committee. The following examples are in support of this line of argument:
- As the campaigns for the last elections gained momentum, the regime put in place a Joint Election Security Committee comprised of all the security agencies with the army being the lead agency.
- In early December 2015, the army chief, Gen. Katumba Wamala, appeared at the Media Center together with Chiefs of other agencies and disclosed that all security agencies were working together to avert looming election insecurity.
- In early January 2016 Museveni directed the army chief to prepare for a nationwide deployment of soldiers claiming that he had" got intelligence that Besigye and Mbabazi with support of hostile external elements were planning an insurrection in Uganda if they lose the election." Katumba Wamala disclosed that the police will keep law and order while the army will manage the general security. That army officers were to be deployed at every police station to coordinate with other security organs. Further that the army had created a unique battalion with specialized capabilities to deal with terrorism, kidnap, organized crime and general lawlessness.
- In early February 2015, the Commanding officer of the Military Police, Col. Kanyesigye while addressing the media at the army headquarters said that: ".....if anyone tries to destabilize the smooth running of the electoral process, we shall not allow this to happen. We will definitely take action to return the situation to normal. We have on many occasions done joint operations together with the police and other sister security organs. Our comrades - the police and intelligence personnel are on the ground to ensure that peace prevails."
- In mid February 2016 Military Police was deployed in the whole of Kampala as Dr. Besigye was being arrested from Nasser Road.
- The Army Spokesperson, Col. Kulaigye during a televised talk show defended the army deployment thus: "......the police's main role is to maintain law and order but this order has to exist first to be maintained and its us who create it."
- After the elections, Gen. Katumba Wamala disclosed that Besigye was recruiting expendables to burn Kampala City. Appearing at Star Television, he disclosed that Besigye was planning a series of riots and was recruiting youth from slums like Kisenyi and others whom he planned to give waragi and marijuana to help them loot shops. He confirmed that the army had deployed in the city and suburbs. He went ahead to reveal that the army knew in advance and deployed to help the police. At the same fora, Police's Fred Enanga who represented the Police Chief disclosed that foreigners were funding Besigye to destabilize Uganda.
- Museveni addressed a press conference at his home in Rwakirura where he emphasized that he would not allow Besigye to burn down Kampala. He promised to "use both soft and hard means to protect the city and the country." He concluded by promising to wipe out opposition completely in the next five years.ellow Ugandan, are you still sleeping or you now know who and why there is 'Police' brutality more especially in Kampala???? If not, continue sleeping.
The Uganda Law Society has called upon victims to show up for free legal services. This is very healthy but the regime will use both money and intimidation to dissuade them the same way they are doing with the victims in the private prosecutions against the IGP. Maybe, if someone could come up with a public inquiry into all the police brutalities or public inquiries are a monopoly of the regime??? What about a newsletter that exposes all those brutalities????
INFORMATION IS POWER AND DEFIANCE IS THE WAY TO GO
-----------------------------------------------
It is unfortunate that exactly two yeas later, gullible Ugandans are surprised by the army's coming out in full force to openly brutalize peaceful protesters. There is nothing new; what is going on is just a continuation of what the army has always been doing.
INFORMATION IS POWER AND THE PROBLEM OF UGANDA IS MUSEVENISM
It is only of recent following the full militarisation of the so called police force that brutality has been associated with the Uganda police. Otherwise, all along the traditional police has specialized in corruption while the army was excelling in gross human rights abuses. It is unfortunate that gullible Ugandans forget so quickly that they have been exonerating the army in brutality and only pointing fingers at the police. He below, please find an article we wrote in the same regard in August 2016.
Change of Guards - Friday, August 5, 2016 at 8:15 PM
ROLE OF MUSEVENI'S ARMY IN 'POLICE' BRUTALITY
Ugandans are up in arms condemning 'Police' brutality. The current agitation was sparked off by an incident on 12th July 2016 when security personnel indiscriminately beat up harmless civilians who were cheering up the release from detention of the leading opposition figure, Dr. Besigye. The Police Chief commended his officers for a job well done. Though parliament was divided on the matter, majority of the regime sycophants defended the police actions. The army representative in parliament through Gen. Pecos Kutesa contended that ".....the opposition and their followers provoked the police who were carrying out their constitutional duties. The police should not be blamed." A few months ago upon being selected as army representative in parliament, the army's political commissar told the media that ".....for us we do not participate in controversial discussions. When the debate is political, we keep mum." Civil society and the general public condemned the brutality. Some of the religious leaders came out to condemn the brutality but majority of them kept mum for fear of loosing out on Museveni's donations of posh cars.
Consequently, the police is pretending to take disciplinary action by charging its junior personnel with a disciplinary offense of conduct prejudicial to good order and discipline before their hastily instituted disciplinary committee dubbed court. In all fairness, the brutal actions of the police amounted to torture and attempted murder if it had not been for the military dictatorial regime. The weapons used and the body parts that were being targeted would clearly prove an intention to either kill or cause gravious bodily harm in a formal criminal trial. Private citizens and victims have commenced private criminal proceedings for vicarious liability and conspiracy in the conduct of his men. He is busy using tax payer's money to organize goons so that they carry out street protests against those criminal proceedings and to threaten victims and judicial officers. Using its majority in parliament, the regime blocked the move to institute a special committee of parliament to probe the police brutality.
To crown it all, Museveni has come out to defend the actions of the police officers and instead blaming the leader of the opposition "......otherwise, it would not have been reasonable to charge these young police people for defending themselves against an illegal and violent demonstrators." Museveni who without shame claimed that he had not had time to meet the police chief to find out what transpired is the same person who was seen seated by the roadside making a call to his security chiefs about Dr. Besigye's release.
Circumstantially, he must have been giving orders on how his police should brutalize cheering crowds. FDC's Senior Counsel, Wandera Ogalo innocently opined that ".......either the president is not properly briefed or he is just ignoring the briefs on police brutality for political reasons." Oh, poor Wandera forgets that sometime back while presiding on Heroes day in Iganga, Museveni stated that he knows everything that happens in the country.
It is a fact that the ongoing police brutality is a well set out scheme by the regime designed to instill fear into the population and subdue them into submission to its dictatorship. Therefore, nothing will but instead Ugandans should expect the worst. he pretense of taking disciplinary action against some of its officers is meant to hoodwink the public just as a mitigating factor against the fear of fueling mass protests which it has been trying to suppress since the rigging of the general election in February 2016. What is special with the incidents of July 2016 when for over a decade now the police has excelled in brutalizing citizens in incidents worse than this most recent one??? From Kiboko Squad, Bodaboda 2010, Team No Sleep and others to the most recent, Kifeesi, why had Ugandans never come out strong? Anyway, better late than never. What is most intriguing is the fact that a big section of gullible Ugandans have come out to exonerate the army to the extent of branding it as being a friendly force. True, like is the case with the police, majority in the army do not approve this brutality against citizens but in the absence of an alternative they have no option but to dance to the tune of a small group of mafias that are holding them hostage.
Since coming to power, Museveni set off to destroy by militarizing the traditional police which he considered hostile to his regime. By deploying army officers to top command positions of the police force he has to a bigger extent succeeded not only in militarizing the police but also in systematically getting rid of the personnel from the 'hostile' regions who used to dominate the traditional police. Without shame, almost 85% of the strategic command and administrative positions of the police force are headed by personnel from his western region. He has fused some strategic units of the police with his Special Forces Group under the command of his son, Gen Muhoozi and charged with ensuring that he remains in power at all cost. Police personnel are afforded military training together with the army in military barracks and are now using military combat weapons like mortar heavy machineguns. The camouflage military combat uniform used by the special units of the police is designed to instill fear in the population into submission. The camouflage leaves one wondering if it matches with the surroundings in the urban setting where they predominantly operate.
More army officers who have no any law enforcement background are being seconded to the police to take over command of its vital units. Plain clothed but hooded military personnel from the SFG are being used in brutalizing civilians during opposition processions under the cover of being Crime Preventers but are often visibly commanding senior police commanders. Military intelligence personnel in civilian clothes and hooded take the lead in brutalizing leaders of the opposition and excited onlookers. A number of illegal detention and torture facilities that double as police stations are manned by military intelligence dressed in police uniform. The army's Military Police has since 1986 been doing police work under the excuse that the police lacked capacity but its now 30 years and the military police is becoming an acceptable component of the police thus nobody is questioning their role in the so called police brutality. When and where will they also be subjected to the so called disciplinary action for the recent brutality against civilians??? What about increased military incursions into the police force instead of withdrawing its presence???
Another monster is the so called Joint Security Committee (JIC) and its technical body the Joint Intelligence Committee (JIC) which are army and intelligence services led respectively. They are composed of the army, police, intelligence services, SFG and prison services. It usurped the role of the statutory National Security Council that was enacted by an the NSC Act 2/2000 as an advisory body to the president on matters of national security. All the evils of the so called police against the opposition and citizens are designed by a secret committee of 'inner people' and rubber stamped by this demonic committee. The following examples are in support of this line of argument:
- As the campaigns for the last elections gained momentum, the regime put in place a Joint Election Security Committee comprised of all the security agencies with the army being the lead agency.
- In early December 2015, the army chief, Gen. Katumba Wamala, appeared at the Media Center together with Chiefs of other agencies and disclosed that all security agencies were working together to avert looming election insecurity.
- In early January 2016 Museveni directed the army chief to prepare for a nationwide deployment of soldiers claiming that he had" got intelligence that Besigye and Mbabazi with support of hostile external elements were planning an insurrection in Uganda if they lose the election." Katumba Wamala disclosed that the police will keep law and order while the army will manage the general security. That army officers were to be deployed at every police station to coordinate with other security organs. Further that the army had created a unique battalion with specialized capabilities to deal with terrorism, kidnap, organized crime and general lawlessness.
- In early February 2015, the Commanding officer of the Military Police, Col. Kanyesigye while addressing the media at the army headquarters said that: ".....if anyone tries to destabilize the smooth running of the electoral process, we shall not allow this to happen. We will definitely take action to return the situation to normal. We have on many occasions done joint operations together with the police and other sister security organs. Our comrades - the police and intelligence personnel are on the ground to ensure that peace prevails."
- In mid February 2016 Military Police was deployed in the whole of Kampala as Dr. Besigye was being arrested from Nasser Road.
- The Army Spokesperson, Col. Kulaigye during a televised talk show defended the army deployment thus: "......the police's main role is to maintain law and order but this order has to exist first to be maintained and its us who create it."
- After the elections, Gen. Katumba Wamala disclosed that Besigye was recruiting expendables to burn Kampala City. Appearing at Star Television, he disclosed that Besigye was planning a series of riots and was recruiting youth from slums like Kisenyi and others whom he planned to give waragi and marijuana to help them loot shops. He confirmed that the army had deployed in the city and suburbs. He went ahead to reveal that the army knew in advance and deployed to help the police. At the same fora, Police's Fred Enanga who represented the Police Chief disclosed that foreigners were funding Besigye to destabilize Uganda.
- Museveni addressed a press conference at his home in Rwakirura where he emphasized that he would not allow Besigye to burn down Kampala. He promised to "use both soft and hard means to protect the city and the country." He concluded by promising to wipe out opposition completely in the next five years.ellow Ugandan, are you still sleeping or you now know who and why there is 'Police' brutality more especially in Kampala???? If not, continue sleeping.
The Uganda Law Society has called upon victims to show up for free legal services. This is very healthy but the regime will use both money and intimidation to dissuade them the same way they are doing with the victims in the private prosecutions against the IGP. Maybe, if someone could come up with a public inquiry into all the police brutalities or public inquiries are a monopoly of the regime??? What about a newsletter that exposes all those brutalities????
INFORMATION IS POWER AND DEFIANCE IS THE WAY TO GO
-----------------------------------------------
It is unfortunate that exactly two yeas later, gullible Ugandans are surprised by the army's coming out in full force to openly brutalize peaceful protesters. There is nothing new; what is going on is just a continuation of what the army has always been doing.
INFORMATION IS POWER AND THE PROBLEM OF UGANDA IS MUSEVENISM
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